Fbank edward guy



F. E. GUY.

CALCULATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-17,1921.

1,395,983. Patented Nov. 1, 1921.

UNITED STATES FRANK EDWARD GUY, OF NEW SOUTH GATE, LONDON, ENGLAND.

CALCULATING-MACHINE.

Application filed January 17, 1921.

To (171 whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK EDWARD GUY, a subject of the King of England, residing at Elmswood, Bounds Green Road, New Southgate. London, N., England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Calculating-Machines, (for which I have filed an application in Great Britain, Sept. 25, 1919, application No. 23600 of 1919,) of which the following, is a specification.

This invention relates to calculating machines of the cam-disk and pin-wheel type having a laterally-movable totalizer-carriage, and more particularly to improved mechanism for effecting the step-by-stepmovement of the carriage.

Calculating machines of the above type are described in prior patents of V. J. Odhner; see for example British Patent 13700 of 1890, and U. S. Patent 996,667. Hitherto, the step-by-step movement of the totalizer-carriage has usually been effected by disengaging the retaining means and pushing the carriage bodily in the desired direction, or by downward pressure upon keys or levers whereby the retaining pinion was rotated by ratchet wheels so as to move the carriage laterally.

The invention has for object to provide improved means for effecting the lateral movement of the totalizer-carriage to bring the totalizer-pinions successively into different relative positions of engagement with the group. of actuating members for the different denominations.

The invention has also for object to effect the lateral movement of the totalizercarriage by a simple motion of the operating device without any preliminary release of a catch or the like, and to limit this movement to a single step in either direction at each actuation of the operating device.

A further object is to provide means for the complete release of the totalizer-carriage so as to allow lateral movement through more than one step in either drection when so desired, such extended movement being eifected by actuation of the same device which produces the complete release of the totalizer-carriage.

According to the present invention, the

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 1, 1921. Serial No. 437,892.

machine-base is provided with a movable rack limiting the movement of the carriage to one step in either direction, for the purpose of such lateral sliding, and also with a fixed rack serving to lock the totalizer cai riage in position, the two racks being arranged parallel to one another and with their teeth horizontal and being adapted to be engaged alternately by a vertically movable detent. The detent is carried by the usual spacing lever and can also be operated by means of a finger plate mounted to slide horizontally upon the carriage, allowing the latter to be moved one step in either direction by a single operation. Preferably the finger plate engages two bell-cranks or the like bearing upon the spacing lever, whereby movement of the finger plate in either direction will depress the spacing lever, the return of the latter restoring all the parts to their normal position. The detent on the spacing lever can be completely released from both racks by depressing a thumbpiece or the like upon the lever, thereby slipping the detent into a free space clear of both racks and allowing sidewise movement through more than one step.

The invention is hereafter more fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of the stepby-step mechanism cooperating with the spacing lever of the carriage.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section, showing the spacing lever in its normal raised position, the dotted lines indicating the depression of the lever for complete release of the carriage.

Fig. 3 is an inverted plan of the mechanism.

Figs. 4 and 5 are views corresponding to Figs. 1 and 2, showing the mechanism operated to produce a single step movement toward the left.

Fig. 6 is a front view of the machine.

The machine A is provided with a spacing lever at having a dog or tooth a, whereby the carriage is locked in position, this tooth being arranged according to the present invention to form a detent which can engage in a toothed rack I) fixed upon the machinebase B horizontally below the spacing lever. This fixed rack is provided preferably upon its underside with a sliding rack a guided by means of screws 0' and slots 0; the teeth in the two racks normally register one with another, and the movable rack is held 1n this position by a spring 0 acting against two bell-cranks which engage pins 0 upon the rack So as automatically to return t to its central position after movement 1n either direction. The sliding rack can be moved longitudinally to the extent of one toothpitch in either direction so as to convey the spacing lever when the latter has been depressed from a notch in the fixed rack into the registering notch in the movable rack, to a position below the adjacent notch in the fixed rack.

The movement of the sliding rack 18 limited to one tooth space in either direction by suitable stops against which it abuts at the completion of such movement; the slots in Fig. 3 are made of sufiicient lengthto allow movement either way through one tooth pitch before the guide-screws strike the ends of the slots. and the housing box inclosing the racks provides sufiicient space for this same movement at each end of the racks.

The spacing lever is carried by the carriagc base C and is provided with a spring acting downwardly upon a tail or extension (1. behind its pivot 71, to maintain the lever normally raised with the dog or detent a engaged in one of the notches of the fixed rack, as shown in full lines in Fig. 2.

For effecting the step-by-step movement, under control of the sliding rack, a suitable operating device such as a slidable finger plate f is mounted on the carriage C, preferably behind the spacing lever a, being guided by studs (1 passing through the slots (7 in the plate. The extreme ends or wings f of the finger plate may be turned forward to afford an easy means of operating the plate. The back plate 1' of the mechanism carries two alternatively acting bell-cranks c of which the overlapping horizontal arms rest upon the spacing lever a and the vertical arms abut against pins 7" upon the finger plate. The spacing lever is thereby depressed as the finger plate is actuated in either direction, thus transferring the tooth a to the corresponding notch in the lower sliding rack c. and allowing the carriage to move one step in the desired direction. It is to be noted that movement of the finger plate to either the right or the left will depress the spacing lever.

The horizontal finger plate is centered by the ordinary spring 7 of the spacing lever. reacting through the bell-cranks e.

The sidewise movement of the horizontal finger plate will first remove the detent a of the spacing lever from its notch in the fixed rack b and transfer it to the register.-

ing notch in the sliding rack c, after which the continued sidewise movement of the finger plate 7 will slide the traveling rack 0111b til the detent a of the spacing lever arrives below the next notch in the fixed rack; the carriage remains in this position until the finger plate is released, whereupon the spacing lever a rises and its tooth a engages the fixed rack b. The limited movement of the sliding rack 0 thus allows the transfer of the spacing leverdetent a to the next notch of the fixed rack in either direction (left or right) dependent upon the direction of the sidewise movement, thus shifting the totalizer-carriage one step.

To allow for the carriage being moved more than one notch, I may arrange for the spacing lever detent a to be disengaged entirely from both notched racks, for example by the head or thumbpiece (1. allowing it to be depressed (as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2) to a greater extent than is produced by the actuation of the finger plate, the detent 1' of the spacing lever then being able to n" ove parallel with, but entirely free from either rack.

The teeth in the sliding rack 0 may be formed with slightly wider spaces or notches than those of the fixed rack 72, as indicated in Fig. 3, sothat as the detent a descends into the movable rack c it finds an airspace or clearance on both sides; this arrangement facilitates the engagement with the sliding rack and renders the working easier on account of the reduced friction.

Having thus described my invention. what I claim is 1. In a calculating machine having a laterally movable totalizer-carriage, means for retaining said carriage in relation to the machine, means for disengaging said retaining means. and a slidable member restricted in movement to correspond with one step of said carriage in either direction. said slidable member being engaged with said carriage simultaneously with the disengagement of said retaining means by a lateral motion of an operating device in the direction of the desired travel of the carriage.

2. In a calculating machine having a laterally movable carriage, the combination of a stationary rack. a slidable rack, said slidable rack restricted in movement to correspond with one step of said carriage in either direction. means for engaging said carriage with either of said racks and operating means controlling said engaging means.

3. In a calculating machine having a laterally movable totalizer-carriage. the combination of a stationary rack. a slidable rack. said slidable rack restricted in movement to correspond with one step of said carriage in either direction. a detent mounted upon said carriage, said detent normally engaging said stationary rack, and means for transferring said detent into said slidable rack.

4. In a calculating machine having a laterally movable totalizer-carriage, the combination of a stationary rack, a slidable rack, said slidable rack mounted upon said stationary rack and restricted in movement to correspond with one step of said carriage in either direction, a detent mounted upon said carriage, said detent normally engaging said stationary rack, and means for sliding said carriage in either direction, said sliding means automatically transferring said detent from said stationary rack into said slidable rack.

5. In a calculating machine having a laterally movable totalizer carriage, the combination of a stationary rack, a slidable rack, said slidable rack mounted upon said stationary rack, yieldable means for centering said slidable rack upon said stationary rack With the respective teeth in register vertically, means for restricting the movement of said slidable rack to correspond with one step of said carriage in either direction, a detent mounted upon said carriage, said detent normally engaging said stationary rack, and means for sliding said carriage in either direction, said sliding means automatically transferring said detent from said stationary rack into said slidable rack.

6. In a calculating machine having a laterally movable totalizer-carriage, the combination of a stationary rack, a slidable rack, said slidable rack restricted in movement to correspond with one step of said carriage in either direction, a detent mounted upon said carriage, said detent normally engaging said stationary rack, means for transferring said detent into said slidable rack, and alternative means for transferring said detent to aposition clear of the racks.

7. In a calculating machine having a laterally movable totalizer-carriage. the combination of a stationary rack. a slidable rack, said slidable rack restricted in movement to correspond with one step of said carriage in either direction, a spacing lever mounted upon said carriage, a detent secured to said spacing lever, said detent normally engaging said stationary rack and means for transferring said detent to said slidable rack, said spacing lever being alternatively operable to transfer said detent to a position clear of both racks.

8. In a calculating machine having a laterally movable totalizer-carriage, the combination of a stationary rack, a slidable rack, said slidable rack being mounted upon said stationary rack and restricted in movement to correspond With one step of said carriage in either direction, a detent mounted upon said carriage, said detent normally engag ing said stationary rack, a slide mounted upon said carriage and movable in either direction, and means whereby movement of'i said slide will transfer said 'detenii' into said slidable rack.

9. In a calculating machine having a late ally movable totalizer-carriage, the combination of a stationary rack, a slidable rack, said racks arranged parallel one below the other with their teeth projecting horizontally, said slidable rack restricted in movement to correspond with one step of said carriage in either direction, a detent mounted upon said carriage, said detent normally engaging said stationary rack but movable in a vertical plane into engagement vvith said slidable rack, and means for moving said carriage in either direction, said means automatically transferring said detent into said slidable rack to control such movement.

10. In a calculating machine having a laterally movable totalizer-carriage, the combination of a stationary rack, a slidable rack. said slidable rack restricted in movement to correspond With one step of said carriage in either direction, a detent mounted upon said carriage, said detent normally engaging said stat onary rack, a slide mounted upon said carriage and movable in either direction, and a pair of bell-cranks pivoted upon said carriage and engaged by said slide, said bellcranks engaging said detent and one of them serving to transfer said detent into said slidable rack upon movement of said slide.

11. In a calculating machine having a laterally movable totalizer-carriage. the combination of a stationary rack, a slidable rack mounted upon said stationary rack and restricted in relative movement to correspond with one step of said carriage in either direction, yielding means for centering said 105 slidable rack upon said stationary rack, a spacing lever mounted upon said carriage. a detent secured to said spacing lever, said detent normally engaging said stationary rack,

a slide mounted upon said carriage and mov- 110 able thereon in either direction parallel to the length of said racks. a pair of bell-cranks pivoted upon said carriage and engaging said spacing lever, means for rocking said bell-cranks upon movement of said slide. 115 said detent being thereby transferred into said slidable rack, and alternative means for operating said spacing lever to transfer said detent to a position clear of both racks.

12. In a calculating machine having a lat- 120 erally movable totalizer-carriage, means for effecting a step-by-step movement of said carriage, comprising a pair of superposed racks, one stationary and the other slidable in relation thereto through a distance corre- 125 sponding to one step of said carriage in either direction, means normally engaging said carriage With said stationary rack. means for moving said carriage one step in either direction, said last mentioned means 130 serving to transfer said engaging means from said stationary rack into said slidable ruck before moving said carriage by a continuous motion, and alternative means for moving said carriage in either direction, said alternative means releasing said engaging means from both racks.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

FRANK EDWARD GUY.

\Vitnesses:

VICTOR F. FEENY, CYRIL J. FEENY. 

